5 Comments

PDQ Chocolate was a popular drink mix in the 1960s and 1970s. It was manufactured by Ovaltine. It has been sold as "PDQ Chocolate Flavor Beads" and "PDQ Choco Chips." "Egg Nog Flavored PDQ" and "Strawberry PDQ" were also available. These flavored beads and chips were used to mix with milk or to sprinkle over ice cream.

The jar lids from the PDQ jars and the jars themselves show up on eBay once in a while. PDQ used to put out different series of jar lids, such as "Endangered Species" and "Famous Automobiles." In 1983, a series of "Marvel Super Heroes" stickers came with the PDQ mixes. The Marvel characters in the series were Captain America, Hulk, Power Man, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, Thor, Fantastic Four (Invisible Girl and The Thing), and X-Men (Wolverine and Storm). During the 1970s, comic strip advertisements would also appear in the Sunday comics featuring "Petey Q." and his favorite drink: PDQ Chocolate flavored milk.

PDQ drink mixes were becoming hard to find in the late 1980s. Ovaltine discontinued the PDQ products about 1995 or 1996.

The closest thing available now is Benco Instant Choco Drink which is sold in Europe. Benco is manufactured in the Netherlands. It tastes very similar to the PDQ Chocolate drink mixes. The Benco Instant Choco Drink mixes have also been available on eBay for those in the United States who may be interested.

Carol Duman - Jul 12, 2011Thanks for the info..I have a co-worker from Germany who has family there..I will ck w/her to see if I can get some Benco Instant Choco Drink...I am excited now..I have Grandma Cookie recipe, this is a wonderful thing. ;0)

Carol Duman - Jul 18, 2011I have found that I can get Benco...my friend in Germany indicates that in Austria you can buy it (Benco) on every corner..so I have some coming in September. I am so excited..to make Grandma's cookies with her choc frosting..;0)